Photo By Scott Sturkol | The construction area for a future transient training brigade headquarters in the 1600...... read more read more
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Throughout February and into early March, progress of construction on the $11.96 million transient training brigade headquarters project at Fort McCoy stayed steady despite some extreme cold on some days and snow and freezing rain on others.
According to a March 3 update by Ken Green with the Army Corps of Engineers Program Office at Fort McCoy, the project reached 20 percent completion. And with spring just around the corner, the pace of construction and progress could get even stronger.
As of March 7, contractor L.S. Black Constructors had completed installing framework for the roof and was working on installation of more exterior items. In his March 3 update, Green said ongoing work included more truss installation and more mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installation was also taking place as well.
Overall, the contract for the project, totaling $11,964,432.87, was awarded June 9, 2022. Construction operations began in August 2022.
As noted in previous articles, Master Planner Brian Harrie with the Fort McCoy Directorate of Public Works (DPW) said the brigade headquarters project is based on the denser, more consolidated footprints of Fort McCoy’s Troop Housing Area Development Plan which states fewer, multiple story buildings allow facilities/functions to be sited closer together, allowing for a more walkable training environment, as well as saving money on utilities.
The smaller footprint of the brigade headquarters building plan builds less impervious surface, which generates less stormwater runoff that requires less stormwater management features and allows for additional cost savings.
The floor plan also is based on the “Operational Readiness Training Complex” standard design and additional square footage has been included in this project to accommodate stair and elevator access to the second floor.”
Harrie said the smaller footprint of the brigade headquarters building plan builds less impervious surface, which generates less stormwater runoff that requires less stormwater management features and allows for additional cost savings. The floor plan also is based on the “Operational Readiness Training Complex” standard design and additional square footage has been included in this project to accommodate stair and elevator access to the second floor.”
Green said at the beginning of the project that the project includes the latest, state-of-the-art systems for fire protection and alarms and video surveillance as well as Energy Monitoring Control Systems. Also, antiterrorism and force protection measures will be incorporated. And throughout the entire project, sustainability and energy efficient technology will be incorporated.
Overall, including this building and the two barracks already built, eight new buildings are planned for the entire 1600 block, Harrie said. The plan is to build four barracks buildings, the three 20,000-square-foot brigade headquarters buildings, and one 160-room officer quarters.
“The 1600 block will be completely transformed when all of this construction is completed years from now,” Harrie said. “The 1600 block is a great location for this transformation, too, because it places these facilities for transient training troops near the post’s service-related facilities, such as the Fort McCoy Commissary, Fort McCoy Exchange, and McCoy’s Community Center.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently designing two brick-and-mortar projects for fiscal year 2023, too, Harrie said. One is the third (of four) four-story barracks in the 1600 block and the other is the officers’ quarters. These are also based on the outcomes of the 1600 Block Transient Training Campus Plan.
Award of both projects is also planned sometime possibly for fiscal year 2023, Harrie said.
Construction projects like this during the fiscal year also plays a role in the economic impact the installation has on local economies. According to the Fort McCoy’s Plans, Analysis and Integration Office, in fiscal year 2022, Fort McCoy’s total economic impact for that fiscal year was an estimated $2.508 billion. A similar impact for fiscal year 2023 is expected.
“Fiscal year 2022 operating costs of $391.46 million included utilities, physical plant maintenance, repair and improvements, new construction projects, purchases of supplies and services, as well as salaries for civilian contract personnel working at Fort McCoy,” states a story about the economic impact prepared by the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office in 2022. “Other expenditures accounted for $52.25 million and covered $339,994 in payments to local governments (including land permit agreements, school district impact aid, etc.) as well as $51.91 million in discretionary spending in local communities by service members training and residing at Fort McCoy. Other factors of economic impact for the fiscal year included $42.5 million in military construction on post.”
The current contract completion date of the brigade headquarters project is planned for December 2023, Green’s update states.
Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on the Defense Visual Information Distribution System at https://www.dvidshub.net/fmpao, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.”
Also try downloading the Digital Garrison app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base.
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 03.08.2023 00:28 |
| Story ID: | 439904 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 272 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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